Method and system to play linear video in variable time frames

ABSTRACT

According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to receive a video media file, receive a chop file  200  and output a portion of the video media file based on the received chop file  200.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Video media, such as movies, cartoons, news programs, and documentaries,are popular forms of entertainment, and each piece of video media isassociated with a pre-determined play time (e.g., run length). Mostadults lead busy lives and don't always have enough time to watch anentire movie during their free time. On a 40 minute bus ride, forexample, it is not currently possible to watch an entire 90 minutemovie. Similarly, a child may not have enough time to watch a programbefore his or her bedtime. A person can “fast forward” through portionsof a video file. However, assuming he or she has not already seen thevideo file, he or she is unaware of upcoming events and will not be ableto select which portions to skip in an intelligent fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a method according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sample chop file according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a variable time video player in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a variable time video player user interface accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is an example of various detail levels associated with a variabletime video player in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a network in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates another system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is an example of a small form factor device in accordance withsome embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a method 100 is illustrated.The method 100 may relate to presenting a linear video, such as a movie,in various different time formats. For example, a ninety minute moviemay be viewed on an hour-long road trip in a way that the movie is shownfrom beginning to end and includes all relevant parts so that the movietells a complete story. The method 100 may be performed by an apparatussuch as that described with respect to FIG. 3. Furthermore, the method100 may be embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium thatstores processor-executable instructions which can be executed by aprocessor.

At 101, a video media file is received. The video media file may bereceived from a network, a digital video disk (“DVD”), a flash drive, orother computer readable mediums. The video media file may be received atan apparatus capable of playing or outputting the content contained inthe video media file, such as, but not limited to, the apparatus of FIG.3.

For illustrative purposes, and to aid in understanding features of thespecification, an example will now be introduced. This example is notintended to limit the scope of the claims. For example, a user places aDVD of a Christmas movie into a DVD player located in his motor vehicle.

Next, at 102, a chop file is received. The chop file may be a separatefile from the video media file. The chop file may contain informationthat represents a video media file decomposed into levels of details.Now referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a chop file 200 isillustrated. Information contained in the chop file 200 may representthe video media file decomposed into video segments where each videosegment comprise a start time 201 of a video segment, a duration of thevideo segment 202, and a level of detail 203 of the video segment.

A video media file may be thought of as an information fractal thatcontains new information at many different levels (e.g., videosegments). At a highest level, the video media file consists of acts andeach act can be broken down into different scenes, and each scene can bebroken down into sub-scenes. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the start of eachscene may be indicated as a level of detail of 0. Each sub-scene may beindicated as having a level of detail of 1, each sub-sub-scene may beindicated as having a level of detail of 2 and each sub-sub-sub scenemay be indicated as having a level of detail of 3. While four levels ofdetail are illustrated in chop file 200, any number of levels of detailmay be indicated.

The chop file 200 may be created by someone with an interest inparaphrasing a video media file. Since different people will havedifferent interpretations and/or viewpoints about a given video mediafile (e.g., a movie, the news, etc.) different chops might exist withdifferent perspectives. The chop file 200 may describe the variousscenes and associated sub-scenes, selected by the chop author, in ahierarchy that defines the video media file at different detailresolution (run lengths). Chop files for various media files may bepublished and a chop enabled media player may receive or automaticallydownload a chop file for a given piece of media based on variouscriteria, such as, but not limited to, a chop author, a favorite newsoutlet, a video subscription service, etc.

In some embodiments, a level of video detail is received. For example, avideo detail level of 1 or 2 may be received at a chop enabled mediaplayer. In response to receiving a level of detail, a time length of thevideo media may be determined, and in some embodiments automaticallyadjusted, based on the received level of video detail and the chop file.Furthermore, a portion of the video media file to be output based thereceived level of detail and the chop file may be determined A selectionof a level of detail may include all sub levels of the selected levelfor playback.

In other embodiments, a time indication may be received and in responseto receiving the time indication a run length of the video media filemay be automatically adjusted based on the received time indication andthe chop file. Furthermore, a portion of the video media file to beoutput based the received time indication and the chop file may bedetermined In some embodiments, the run length may be adjusted based ona combination of different levels of detail. For example, in response toreceiving the time indication, a length of the video media file to beplayed back will be determined based on a combination of a first periodof time associated with a first level of video detail and on a secondperiod of time associated with a second level of video detail such thata total time equals the time indication. Continuing with the aboveexample, the user who placed the Christmas movie into the

DVD player also loads a chop file into the DVD player. The chop file maybe loaded via the internet (e.g., a wireless or wired internetconnection), flash drive, or other portable computer readable medium.Furthermore, the DVD player may receive a level of detail of 2.

Next, at 103 a portion of the video media file is output based on thereceived chop file. The video media file may be output to a display ormonitor. Video segments of the video media file associated with theselected level of detail and lower will be output and displayed.

Continuing with the above example, the Christmas movie is output to adisplay based on the times set forth in the chop file and on thereceived level of detail (e.g., 2). Therefore only sections of theChristmas movie associated with levels 2, 3 and lower will be played anddisplayed on the DVD player.

In other embodiments, a level of detail may be controlled by othersystems, such as a global positioning system (“GPS”). The GPS maydetermine a time to arrive at a destination and transmit that time tothe chop enabled media player. In response to receiving the time toarrive from the GPS, the chop enabled media player may adjust the outputbased on the chop file so that viewing of the video media file will becompleted when the user arrives at his location. Moreover, should theGPS determine delays in arrival (e.g., due to traffic or construction),the GPS can send a modified time indication to the chop enabled mediaplayer to increase viewing time. As such, levels of detail may beautomatically adjusted to ensure that viewing is concluded at a specifictime.

In another embodiment, when a time indication exceeds a total length ofthe video media file, additional media related to the video media filemay be output. The additional media may be downloaded from the internet,an external medium (e.g., flash drive) or may be associated with thevideo media file such as, but not limited to, a director's cut, a behindthe scenes look, artist interviews.

Now referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of an apparatus 300 isillustrated. The apparatus 300 may comprise one or more inputs 301, amemory 302, a processor 303, a medium 304, and a display 305.

The one or more inputs 301 may comprise, but are not limited to, of akeyboard, a touch screen, a dial, a GPS, a slider or other imputingmeans. In some embodiments the input may comprise a level of detaildial. The level of detail dial may be used to enter a level of detail todynamically cause detail to be successively removed as the level ofdetail dial is turned down or added as the “level of detail” dial isturned up. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may display a run timeof the video media file that is associated with the entered level ofdetail. The level of detail may be dynamically controlled so that moredetail is presented for portions which are of most interest and lessdetail is presented during less interesting parts. Furthermore, in someembodiments the level of detail may be automatically adjusted to causethe video to end at a desired time. When the level of detail dial isturned up, media scenes successively higher in the chop's hierarchy aredisplayed and accordingly, when the detail dial is turned down, mediascenes successively lower in the chop file hierarchy will be displayed.The detail dial may be exercised in real-time by the user while watchinga piece of media, allowing the viewer to “drill down” on content thatmost interests them.

The processor 303 may include or otherwise be associated with dedicatedregisters, stacks, queues, etc. that are used to execute program codeand/or one or more of these elements may be shared there between. Insome embodiments, the processor 303 may comprise an integrated circuit.The processor 303 may comprise circuitry to perform a method such as,but not limited to, the method described with respect to FIG. 1.

The medium 304 may comprise any computer-readable medium that may storeprocessor-executable instructions to be executed by the processor 303.For example, the medium 304 may comprise a non-transitory tangiblemedium such as, but is not limited to, a compact disk, a digital videodisk, flash memory, optical storage, random access memory, read onlymemory, or magnetic media.

The memory 302 may comprise any type of memory for storing data, suchas, but not limited to, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a micro SD card, aSingle Data Rate Random Access Memory (SDR-RAM), a Double Data RateRandom Access Memory (DDR-RAM), or a Programmable Read Only Memory(PROM).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram overview of a variable time video player 400according to some embodiments. The variable time video player 400comprises a processor 410, such as one or more commercially availableCentral Processing Units (CPUs) in the form of one-chip microprocessors,coupled to a communication device 420 configured to communicate via acommunication network (not shown in FIG. 4). The communication device420 may be used to communicate, for example, with one or more remoteservers as described with respect to FIG. 7. The variable time videoplayer 400 further includes an input device 440 (e.g., a motion sensor,touchscreen, and/or keyboard to receive information from a user whocreates a chop file) and an output device 450 (e.g., a computer monitorto display a video file to a user).

The processor 410 communicates with a storage device 430. The storagedevice 430 may comprise any appropriate information storage device,including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., a hard diskdrive), optical storage devices, and/or semiconductor memory devices.The storage device 430 stores a program 412 and/or variable time videoplayer application 414 for controlling the processor 410. The processor410 performs instructions of the programs 412, 414, and thereby operatesin accordance with any of the embodiments described herein. For example,the processor 410 may receive a video media file associated with aplurality of time-based portions. The processor 410 may also receive achop file, the chop file including a level of video detail indicationfor each of the plurality of time-based portions. The processor 410 maythen output a portion of the video media file based on the received chopfile.

The programs 412, 414 may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled and/orencrypted format. The programs 412, 414 may furthermore include otherprogram elements, such as an operating system, a database managementsystem, and/or device drivers used by the processor 410 to interfacewith peripheral devices.

As used herein, information may be “received” by or “transmitted” to,for example: (i) the variable time video player 400 from another device;or (ii) a software application or module within the variable time videoplayer 400 from another software application, module, or any othersource.

According to some embodiments, the storage device 430 further stores achop file database 460. The chop file database 460 might be, forexample, created or adjusted by a viewer via the input device 440 and/orreceived from a remote chop file server via the communication device420. The information in the chop file database 460 might be, forexample, similar to the information described with respect to FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a variable time video player user interface 500according to some embodiments. The user interface 500 may, for example,let a viewer enter and/or adjust chop file information associated with amovie or other video file (e.g., a start time, a duration or stop time,and a level of detail value for various portions of the movie).According to some embodiments, a user may select an “auto generation”icon to have a variable time video player automatically create orsuggest chop file information.

FIG. 6 is an example 600 of various detail levels associated with avariable time video player in accordance with some embodiments. Forexample, a 90 minute detail level may include acts and scenes which maymap to chops in a 60 minute detail level. Similarly, chops in the 60minute detail level may map to sub-chops in a 30 minute detail level. Adetail knob (physical or graphical) might let a view control which choplevels are played.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a network 700 in accordance with someembodiments. In the network 700, a chop file server 750 may exchangechop file information with a plurality of variable time video players710. The chop file server 750 might, for example, receive requests forchop files from a variable time video player 710 (e.g., including amovie title or identifier) and reply to the request with the appropriateinformation.

FIG. 8 illustrates a system 800 according to some embodiments. Inparticular, the system 800 comprises a variable time video player 810,storing a chop file database 850, that operates in accordance with anyof the embodiments described herein. According to some embodiments, thevariable time video player 810 further includes a digital display port820 to exchange information with a digital display device (e.g., atelevision or set top box).

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a system 900. In embodiments, system900 may be a media system although system 900 is not limited to thiscontext. For example, system 900 may be incorporated into a personalcomputer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet, touchpad, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer, personaldigital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combination cellulartelephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone, smart tabletor smart television), mobile internet device (MID), messaging device,data communication device, and so forth.

In embodiments, system 900 comprises a platform 902 coupled to a display920. Platform 902 may receive content from a content device such ascontent services device(s) 930 or content delivery device(s) 940 orother similar content sources. A navigation controller 950 comprisingone or more navigation features may be used to interact with, forexample, platform 902 and/or display 920. Each of these components isdescribed in more detail below.

In embodiments, platform 902 may comprise any combination of a chipset905, processor 910, memory 912, storage 914, graphics subsystem 915,applications 916 and/or radio 918. Chipset 905 may provideintercommunication among processor 910, memory 912, storage 914,graphics subsystem 915, applications 916 and/or radio 918. For example,chipset 905 may include a storage adapter (not depicted) capable ofproviding intercommunication with storage 914.

Processor 910 may be implemented as Complex Instruction Set Computer(CISC) or Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processors, x86instruction set compatible processors, multi-core, or any othermicroprocessor or central processing unit (CPU). In embodiments,processor 910 may comprise dual-core processor(s), dual-core mobileprocessor(s), and so forth.

Memory 912 may be implemented as a volatile memory device such as, butnot limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic Random AccessMemory (DRAM), or Static RAM (SRAM).

Storage 914 may be implemented as a non-volatile storage device such as,but not limited to, a magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, tapedrive, an internal storage device, an attached storage device, flashmemory, battery backed-up SDRAM (synchronous DRAM), and/or a networkaccessible storage device. In embodiments, storage 914 may comprisetechnology to increase the storage performance enhanced protection forvaluable digital media when multiple hard drives are included, forexample.

Graphics subsystem 915 may perform processing of images such as still orvideo for display. Graphics subsystem 915 may be a graphics processingunit (GPU) or a visual processing unit (VPU), for example. An analog ordigital interface may be used to communicatively couple graphicssubsystem 915 and display 920. For example, the interface may be any ofa High-Definition Multimedia Interface, DisplayPort, wireless HDMI,and/or wireless HD compliant techniques. Graphics subsystem 915 could beintegrated into processor 910 or chipset 905. Graphics subsystem 915could be a stand-alone card communicatively coupled to chipset 905.

The graphics and/or video processing techniques described herein may beimplemented in various hardware architectures. For example, graphicsand/or video functionality may be integrated within a chipset.Alternatively, a discrete graphics and/or video processor may be used.As still another embodiment, the graphics and/or video functions may beimplemented by a general purpose processor, including a multi-coreprocessor. In a further embodiment, the functions may be implemented ina consumer electronics device.

Radio 918 may include one or more radios capable of transmitting andreceiving signals using various suitable wireless communicationstechniques. Such techniques may involve communications across one ormore wireless networks. Exemplary wireless networks include (but are notlimited to) wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal areanetworks (WPANs), wireless metropolitan area network (WMANs), cellularnetworks, and satellite networks. In communicating across such networks,radio 918 may operate in accordance with one or more applicablestandards in any version.

In embodiments, display 920 may comprise any television type monitor ordisplay. Display 920 may comprise, for example, a computer displayscreen, touch screen display, video monitor, television-like device,and/or a television. Display 920 may be digital and/or analog. Inembodiments, display 920 may be a holographic display. Also, display 920may be a transparent surface that may receive a visual projection. Suchprojections may convey various forms of information, images, and/orobjects. For example, such projections may be a visual overlay for amobile augmented reality (MAR) application. Under the control of one ormore software applications 916, platform 902 may display user interface922 on display 920.

In embodiments, content services device(s) 930 may be hosted by anynational, international and/or independent service and thus accessibleto platform 902 via the Internet, for example. Content servicesdevice(s) 930 may be coupled to platform 902 and/or to display 920.Platform 902 and/or content services device(s) 930 may be coupled to anetwork 960 to communicate (e.g., send and/or receive) media informationto and from network 960. Content delivery device(s) 940 also may becoupled to platform 902 and/or to display 920.

In embodiments, content services device(s) 930 may comprise a cabletelevision box, personal computer, network, telephone, Internet enableddevices or appliance capable of delivering digital information and/orcontent, and any other similar device capable of unidirectionally orbidirectionally communicating content between content providers andplatform 902 and/display 920, via network 960 or directly. It will beappreciated that the content may be communicated unidirectionally and/orbidirectionally to and from any one of the components in system 900 anda content provider via network 960. Examples of content may include anymedia information including, for example, video, music, medical andgaming information, and so forth.

Content services device(s) 930 receives content such as cable televisionprogramming including media information, digital information, and/orother content. Examples of content providers may include any cable orsatellite television or radio or Internet content providers. Theprovided examples are not meant to limit embodiments of the invention.

In embodiments, platform 902 may receive control signals from navigationcontroller 950 having one or more navigation features. The navigationfeatures of controller 950 may be used to interact with user interface922, for example. In embodiments, navigation controller 950 may be apointing device that may be a computer hardware component (specificallyhuman interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (e.g.,continuous and multi-dimensional) data into a computer. Many systemssuch as graphical user interfaces (GUI), and televisions and monitorsallow the user to control and provide data to the computer or televisionusing physical gestures.

Movements of the navigation features of controller 950 may be echoed ona display (e.g., display 920) by movements of a pointer, cursor, focusring, or other visual indicators displayed on the display. For example,under the control of software applications 916, the navigation featureslocated on navigation controller 950 may be mapped to virtual navigationfeatures displayed on user interface 922, for example. In embodiments,controller 950 may not be a separate component but integrated intoplatform 902 and/or display 920. Embodiments, however, are not limitedto the elements or in the context shown or described herein.

In embodiments, drivers (not shown) may comprise technology to enableusers to instantly turn on and off platform 902 like a television withthe touch of a button after initial boot-up, when enabled, for example.Program logic may allow platform 902 to stream content to media adaptorsor other content services device(s) 930 or content delivery device(s)940 when the platform is turned “off” In addition, chip set 905 maycomprise hardware and/or software support for 5.1 surround sound audioand/or high definition 9.1 surround sound audio, for example. Driversmay include a graphics driver for integrated graphics platforms. Inembodiments, the graphics driver may comprise a peripheral componentinterconnect (PCI) Express graphics card.

In various embodiments, any one or more of the components shown insystem 900 may be integrated. For example, platform 902 and contentservices device(s) 930 may be integrated, or platform 902 and contentdelivery device(s) 940 may be integrated, or platform 902, contentservices device(s) 930, and content delivery device(s) 940 may beintegrated, for example. In various embodiments, platform 902 anddisplay 920 may be an integrated unit. Display 920 and content servicedevice(s) 930 may be integrated, or display 920 and content deliverydevice(s) 940 may be integrated, for example. These examples are notmeant to limit the invention.

In various embodiments, system 900 may be implemented as a wirelesssystem, a wired system, or a combination of both. When implemented as awireless system, system 900 may include components and interfacessuitable for communicating over a wireless shared media, such as one ormore antennas, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, amplifiers,filters, control logic, and so forth. An example of wireless sharedmedia may include portions of a wireless spectrum, such as the RFspectrum and so forth. When implemented as a wired system, system 900may include components and interfaces suitable for communicating overwired communications media, such as input/output (I/O) adapters,physical connectors to connect the I/O adapter with a correspondingwired communications medium, a network interface card (NIC), disccontroller, video controller, audio controller, and so forth. Examplesof wired communications media may include a wire, cable, metal leads,printed circuit board (PCB), backplane, switch fabric, semiconductormaterial, twisted-pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber optics, and so forth.

Platform 902 may establish one or more logical or physical channels tocommunicate information. The information may include media informationand control information. Media information may refer to any datarepresenting content meant for a user. Examples of content may include,for example, data from a voice conversation, videoconference, streamingvideo, electronic mail (“email”) message, voice mail message,alphanumeric symbols, graphics, image, video, text and so forth. Datafrom a voice conversation may be, for example, speech information,silence periods, background noise, comfort noise, tones and so forth.Control information may refer to any data representing commands,instructions or control words meant for an automated system. Forexample, control information may be used to route media informationthrough a system, or instruct a node to process the media information ina predetermined manner. The embodiments, however, are not limited to theelements or in the context shown or described in FIG. 9.

As described above, system 900 may be embodied in varying physicalstyles or form factors. FIG. 10 illustrates embodiments of a small formfactor device 1000 in which system 900 may be embodied. In embodiments,for example, device 1000 may be implemented as a mobile computing devicehaving wireless capabilities. A mobile computing device may refer to anydevice having a processing system and a mobile power source or supply,such as one or more batteries, for example.

As described above, examples of a mobile computing device may include apersonal computer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet,touch pad, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer,personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combinationcellular telephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone,smart tablet or smart television), mobile internet device (MID),messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.

Examples of a mobile computing device also may include computers thatare arranged to be worn by a person, such as a wrist computer, fingercomputer, ring computer, eyeglass computer, belt-clip computer, arm-bandcomputer, shoe computers, clothing computers, and other wearablecomputers. In embodiments, for example, a mobile computing device may beimplemented as a smart phone capable of executing computer applications,as well as voice communications and/or data communications. Althoughsome embodiments may be described with a mobile computing deviceimplemented as a smart phone by way of example, it may be appreciatedthat other embodiments may be implemented using other wireless mobilecomputing devices as well. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

As shown in FIG. 10, device 1000 may comprise a housing 1002, a display1004, an input/output (I/O) device 1006, and an antenna 1008. Device1000 also may comprise navigation features 1012. Display 1004 maycomprise any suitable display unit for displaying informationappropriate for a mobile computing device. I/O device 1006 may compriseany suitable I/O device for entering information into a mobile computingdevice. Examples for I/O device 1006 may include an alphanumerickeyboard, a numeric keypad, a touch pad, input keys, buttons, switches,rocker switches, microphones, speakers, voice recognition device andsoftware, and so forth. Information also may be entered into device 1000by way of microphone. Such information may be digitized by a voicerecognition device. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Various embodiments may be implemented using hardware elements, softwareelements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements mayinclude processors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g.,transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integratedcircuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmablegate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips,microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software may includesoftware components, programs, applications, computer programs,application programs, system programs, machine programs, operatingsystem software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines,subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces,application program interfaces (API), instruction sets, computing code,computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words, values,symbols, or any combination thereof. Determining whether an embodimentis implemented using hardware elements and/or software elements may varyin accordance with any number of factors, such as desired computationalrate, power levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input datarates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and otherdesign or performance constraints.

One or more aspects of at least one embodiment may be implemented byrepresentative instructions stored on a machine-readable medium whichrepresents various logic within the processor, which when read by amachine causes the machine to fabricate logic to perform the techniquesdescribed herein. Such representations, known as “IP cores” may bestored on a tangible, machine readable medium and supplied to variouscustomers or manufacturing facilities to load into the fabricationmachines that actually make the logic or processor.

Various modifications and changes may be made to the foregoingembodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope setforth in the appended claims. The following illustrates variousadditional embodiments and do not constitute a definition of allpossible embodiments, and those skilled in the art will understand thatthe present invention is applicable to many other embodiments. Further,although the following embodiments are briefly described for clarity,those skilled in the art will understand how to make any changes, ifnecessary, to the above-described apparatus and methods to accommodatethese and other embodiments and applications.

Although embodiments have been described with respect to particulartypes of video files, note that embodiments may be associated with othertypes of information. For example, a digital book or audio file might beassociated with a chop file. Moreover, while embodiments have beenillustrated using particular ways of selecting a level of detail, notethat embodiments might be associated with other ways of determiningdetail levels (e.g., by automatically detecting that a person is notpaying attention to the current level of detail).

Embodiments have been described herein solely for the purpose ofillustration. Persons skilled in the art will recognize from thisdescription that embodiments are not limited to those described, but maybe practiced with modifications and alterations limited only by thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a video media fileassociated with a plurality of time-based portions; receiving a chopfile 200, the chop file 200 including a level of video detail indicationfor each of the plurality of time-based portions; and outputting, via aprocessor, a portion of the video media file based on the received chopfile
 200. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving adesired level of video detail from a viewer; and determining the portionof the video media file to be output based on the desired level of videodetail and the chop file
 200. 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving a time indication; and determining the portion ofthe video media file to be output based on the received time indicationand the chop file
 200. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determiningcomprises: determining a first period of time associated with a firstlevel of video detail; determining a second period of time associatedwith a second level of video detail, wherein the time indication equalsa total time of the first period of time plus the second period of time.5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the time indicationcomprises: receiving an input from a GPS receiver indicating an amountof time to reach a destination.
 7. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising: outputting additional media related to the video media filein a case that the received time indication exceeds a total length ofthe video media file.
 8. An apparatus comprising: a digital display port820; a processor 303; and a medium 304 comprising instructions that whenexecuted by the processor 303 perform a method, the method comprising:receiving a video media file associated with a plurality of time-basedportions; receiving a chop file 200, the chop file 200 including a levelof video detail for each of the plurality of time-based portions; andoutputting, via the processor, a portion of the video media file basedon the received chop file
 200. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein themethod further comprises: receiving a desired level of video detail froma viewer; and determining the portion of the video media file to beoutput based on the desired level of video detail and the chop file 200.10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:receiving a time indication; and determining the portion of the videomedia file to be output based on the received time indication and thechop file
 200. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the determiningcomprises: determining a first period of time associated with a firstlevel of video detail; determining a second period of time associatedwith a second level of video detail, wherein the time indication equalsa total time of the first period of time plus the second period of time.12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein receiving a time indicationcomprises: receiving an input from a GPS receiver indicating an amountof time to reach a destination.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe method further comprises: outputting additional media related to thevideo media file in a case that the received time indication exceeds atotal length of the video media file.
 14. A medium comprisinginstructions that when executed by a processor 303 perform a method, themethod comprising: receiving a video media file associated with aplurality of time-based portions; receiving a chop file 200, the chopfile 200 including a level of video detail indication for each of theplurality of time-based portions; and outputting, via a processor, aportion of the video media file based on the received chop file
 200. 15.The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: receivinga desired level of video detail from viewer; and determining the portionof the video media file to be output based on the desired level of videodetail and the chop file
 200. 16. The medium of claim 14, wherein themethod further comprises: receiving a time indication; and determiningthe portion of the video media file to be output based on the receivedtime indication and the chop file
 200. 17. The medium of claim 16,wherein the determining comprises: determining a first period of timeassociated with a first level of video detail; determining a secondperiod of time associated with a second level of video detail, whereinthe time indication equals a total time of the first period of time plusthe second period of time.
 18. The medium of claim 16, wherein receivinga time indication comprises: receiving an input from a GPS receiverindicating an amount of time to reach a destination.
 19. The medium ofclaim 16, wherein the method further comprises: outputting additionalmedia related to the video media file in a case that the received timeindication exceeds a total length of the video media file.